Women’s and Gender support services have a long herstory on campus. Starting in the 70’s to our most recent name change in Summer 2021, the space has shifted and adapted with times. Even during a 10-year suspension of services and physical space, programs were carried on by campus partners.
Timeline of Services and Space
Women’s Resource Center Opened
Staffed by five volunteer coordinators the center opened in 1973/1974 academic school year. Supported by the Associated Students of UCI, its activities and services included a library, a calendar of activities, and several committees. The Center also offered a reading group, self-defense classes, consciousness-raising groups, day care, and information on health ser
Became the Center for Women and Gender Education
In 1994 the Women’s Resource Center became the Center for Women and Gender Education.
The Center renamed to the Center for Women and Men
In the fall of 2001, the center was renamed the Center for Women and Men. Supported by the Office of Student Affairs, the Center offered programs concerning gender issues for both women and men, while continuing to address the special needs and interests of women.
Funding for the Center was Suspended
Although the physical space closed programs like the CARE (Campus Assault Resources and Education) Office, Gender Education Series in the Dean of Students Office, and the Gender Education Initiative in the Cross Cultural Center carried on women’s and gender work across campus.
The Womxn’s Hub Opens
The Womxn’s Hub was founded through the collaboration of some dynamic womxn. The former Director of the UCI Cross-Cultural Center, Jade Agua, partnered with former Director of the Womxn’s Hub, Tamara Austin, to discuss the lack of a womxn’s center at UCI. They discovered that the campus had a previous womxn’s center and due to budget cuts, the center was disbanded. They assessed the number of womxn who were coming to the Cross-Cultural Center and used the Gender Initiative to bring the womxn’s center back. Working with alumni, current students, faculty, and staff a renovated space in the Cross-Cultural Center became the new home of the Womxn’s Hub. The center opened in September 2016 and served over 1000 students in the first year.
The Hub Renamed to Womxn’s Center for Success
With a move to its own space on the fourth floor of the Student Center and an establishment of more permanent funding sources the Hub was ready to become a center again!
New Branding/Logo Reveal
The Womxn’s Center for Success got a makeover thanks to Jen from projectcreativa.com! When developing this new look, Jen and the Womxn’s Center staff wanted the branding to be empowering, informative, relatable, welcoming, caring, energetic, and authentic.
New Space Grand Opening
In Fall 2021 the Womxn’s Center for Success Staff moved from the Cross Cultural Center space into the 4th Floor RISE Suite space along with the Latinx Resource Center, DREAM Center, UC Immigrant Legal Services, and the Sustainability Resource Center. Due to delay in construction and furniture, the grand opening of the space took place in February 2022.
The Womxn’s Center for Success releases the Our Story documentary
Created as a summer project in 2022, Multi-Media Student Intern Adrienne Santiago directed and produced the Our Story documentary. Release initially in Fall 2022 the community had access to watch and listen to the stories that have sustained the Womxn’s Center services in its 38 year history.
Watch it now!